Glossaries and termbases

A termbase is a database containing terminology and related information. Most termbases are multilingual and contain terminology data in a range of different languages.

A termbase is integrated into Computer Aided Translation software so that approved terminology can be incorporated semi-automatically, allowing us to enhance the quality and consistency of a translation.

A termbase will make sure that a team working on a translation uses the same terminology. It ensures that, to take an example, in an English to Spanish medical translation, medical condition will not be rendered by different people in different (but equally correct) ways – as enfermedad, afección or problema de salud – but always as it is in the termbase – let’s say afección.

A glossary is a merely a list of words and their translations, typically in the form of an Excel spreadsheet.